Black-topped red polished beaker

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This bell-shaped (or ‘tulip’) beaker is of a type characteristic of the classic phase of Kerma pottery. The red surface was created by application of ochre prior to firing in an oxidizing atmosphere and polishing with smooth stones/pebbles. The black top was attained by turning the beaker...

This bell-shaped (or ‘tulip’) beaker is of a type characteristic of the classic phase of Kerma pottery. The red surface was created by application of ochre prior to firing in an oxidizing atmosphere and polishing with smooth stones/pebbles. The black top was attained by turning the beaker over to place the upper portion in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere of burning organics/ash. It is cracked.

Provenance

From Kerma, Cemetery S, Tumulus IV, grave 421 (K IV/421/4) . 1913: Excavated by the Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition; assigned to the MFA in the division of finds by the government of the Sudan.
(Accession date: June 15, 2006)